The AEC Lenshttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay
Just another AEC Blogs weblogFri, 06 Mar 2015 23:00:15 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1FARO Acquires Complementary Software Companieshttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2015/03/06/faro-acquires-complementary-software-companies/
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2015/03/06/faro-acquires-complementary-software-companies/#commentsFri, 06 Mar 2015 23:00:15 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/?p=467As we said a little over a month ago, we have witnessed the ongoing and perpetual consolidation of the CAD/CAM industry as companies continue to get swallowed up by others.

We’ve witnessed CAD companies acquiring CAD/CAM companies, simulation companies acquiring CAD companies, and other types of technical software and service companies acquiring CAD/CAM companies. With all the attention seemingly focused on the CAD/CAM side, it’s sometimes easy to forget that there also has been a significant consolidation through acquisition on other sides of technical software as well over the past several years. In other words, with these other acquisitions technical software circles of all types continue to get smaller.

This time around its 3D scanning giant, FARO Technologies, and its recent acquisitions of kubit (AEC point cloud processing software) and ARAS 360 (crime reconstruction/forensic software). Founded in 1981, FARO Technologies Inc. develops and markets portable 3D measurement systems for computer-aided manufacturing measurement.

FARO Focus 3D Laser Scanner

kubit Acquisition

Let’s start with newest acquisition, kubit GmbH, that took place earlier this week.

kubit is a developer of software for surveying and as-built documentation. The acquisition also includes virtually all of the assets of its U.S. distributor kubit USA, Inc.

Located in Dresden, Germany, since 1999 kubit has been developing field-proven software products to enable and simplify the use of real world objects in CAD applications. Initially launched to link total stations directly to AutoCAD, today kubit provides tools to integrate 3D laser scan data with CAD environments such as Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. Although just acquired by FARO, kubit’s software is hardware independent, and is expected to remain that way, at least for the foreseeable future.

kubit Laser Scanning Portfolio

“The acquisition of kubit is a step in FARO’s strategy to developing integrated, disruptive 3D documentation product offerings for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction market,” stated Jay Freeland, FARO’s President and CEO. “By adding kubit’s products to our portfolio, customers now have significantly enhanced software options to serve a vast array of point cloud modeling, analysis needs, and measurement capabilities with very high connectivity to the Autodesk suite of products.”

Although monetary figures were not disclosed, the cash transaction includes an initial payment as well as future payments.

ARAS 360 Acquisition

About a month ago, announced the acquisition of ARAS 360 Technologies Inc., a developer of accident and crime reconstruction, simulation, and animation software.

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Kamloops, British Columbia, ARAS produces a full suite of accident and crime reconstruction software tools that offer advanced graphics, advanced analytical tools, and the ability to work with large point cloud data sets from 3D laser scanners. The company’s newest product, Reality, is a 64-bit crash and crime software product that was launched in November 2014. Reality provides customers with an intuitive and user-friendly interface enabling them to quickly generate precision diagrams with stunning details and graphic realism.

ARAS 360 HD Crash and Crime Reconstruction Software

“The acquisition of ARAS 360 will help FARO create a complementary suite of integrated 3D documentation product offerings for our law enforcement customers,” said FARO’s Jay Freeland. “By adding the ARAS products to our portfolio, along with the product offerings of the CAD Zone which we acquired last year, customers can now document and analyze any crime or accident scene with the most intuitive and powerful drawing, simulation and animation tools in the market.”

This was also a cash transaction with an initial payment as well as future payments. As with the kubit acquisition, acquisition figures for ARAS 360 also were not disclosed.

CAD Zone Acquisition

The acquisition of ARAS 360 is not FARO’s first foray into forensics, as last year it acquired The CAD Zone, a software provider in the law enforcement accident and crime scene reconstruction market. The intent of that acquisition was to integrate CAD Zone’s point cloud software application with FARO’s laser scanning technology to provide turnkey solutions for crime scene and other forensic applications.

FARO’s continued push into the $8.3 billion law enforcement forensic technologies market supports its implementation of a long-term strategy of expansion into key vertical markets with its 3D metrology, imaging, and realization products.

“We believe CAD Zone’s leading software solutions for law enforcement will provide FARO with a compelling integrated 3D documentation product offering,” said FARO’s Freeland. “This acquisition is an important part of our strategic focus on penetrating key vertical markets that offer FARO the most market potential. While law enforcement is a relatively small vertical market for FARO today, we believe it represents a significant opportunity for the right 3D documentation solution and our acquisition of CAD Zone takes a major step forward in creating that offering.”

FARO’s Future

With these acquisitions, FARO puts itself in an interesting position. The long-range scanning market for AEC (especially with AutoCAD) is an especially lucrative one and is probably the fastest growing segment of the 3D scanning market, although it could be argued that automated inspection in manufacturing is also a growth market, too. While relatively small, forensics is a good vertical market for FARO, and one that appears to be growing at a good pace

Above and beyond acquisitions, we noted last week at the Autodesk REAL 2015 event in San Francisco that FARO and Autodesk are getting particularly close through integrations with Autodesk’s AutoCAD, Revit, and ReCap. The kubit acquisition reinforces the Autodesk connection. Where this all goes is anybody’s guess, but I think it’s safe to say that this relationship will only grow stronger. In fact, it’s not out the realm of possibility that, ultimately, FARO Technologies could become a potential acquisition target of Autodesk. After all, stranger things have happened.

Description

The future of design visualization will be interactive. Come to this M&E Innovation Forum and hear from our panel of experts—Taylor Cupp, Mortensen Construction; Jose Sanchez, USC School of Architecture; and Brian Pene, Autodesk —who will discuss how viewing, interacting with, and even simulation and testing of design data is changing, becoming more interactive, more intuitive, and more powerful, thanks in part to new technologies like high-quality game engines.The session will be followed by a cocktail reception.

Speakers

Co-speaker: Brian Pene

Brian Pene is a senior principal researcher for the office of the CTO at Autodesk. He explores the intersection of emerging technologies and market trends to provide Autodesk with potential directions for innovative design, business, and technology solutions. His projects have included applications in augmented and mixed reality, real-time 3D visualization and simulation, virtual worlds, learning tools, and computational design.

Co-speaker: Jose Sanchez

Jose Sanchez is an architect, programmer, and game designer based in Los Angeles, California. He is a partner at the startup Bloom Games and director of the Plethora Project, a research and learning project investing in the future of online open-source knowledge. Sanchez is also an assistant professor at USC School of Architecture.

Co-speaker: Taylor Cupp

Taylor Cupp is a senior integrated construction coordinator for Mortenson Construction. He provides insight into Mortenson’s use of technology in construction, and standardizing the tools and processes for implementing BIM into the field and project closeout. Cupp is currently working on a large hospital project, and is a key member of Mortenson’s initiative to reduce the time and cost of construction through advanced technology.

Description

Join AU’s own Lynn Allen for a candid conversation with technologists from Dell, HP, and Intel. Learn how new and emerging technologies are affecting and enhancing the way we work with Autodesk® design and creation suites, and more.

Key Learning

Hear near-term technology predictions from technologists from leading companies

Speakers

Primary Speaker: Lynn Allen

Lynn Allen, Cadalyst columnist and worldwide Autodesk Technical Evangelist, speaks to more than 30,000 users each year. For the past fifteen years she has written a monthly column in Cadalyst magazine called “Circles and Lines” and is the voice behind Cadalyst’s “Tips and Tricks Tuesdays”. Lynn started using AutoCAD® software with Release 1.4, over 20 years ago, and got her start by teaching at the corporate and collegiate level for 12 years. A sought-after public speaker with a unique comedic style, Lynn has served as the Autodesk University emcee for ten years and is always one of the highest rated speakers. Her latest book is entitled AutoCAD Professional Tips and Techniques.

Frank Soqui

Frank works for Intel as the General Manager, Workstations

Andy Rhodes

Andy works for Dell as Executive Director, Precision BU

Bruce Blaho

Bruce works for Hewlett-Packard as Fellow & Workstations Chief Technologist

Description

Join Autodesk CEO Carl Bass and CTO Jeff Kowalski as they present the trends and forces shaping the future of making things. Carl will talk about new ways to communicate and even collaborate with our computers, which are blurring the lines between the digital and physical worlds. Jeff will explore how we’re bringing life to design through robust design taxonomies, generative design, and our emerging power to create things that can sense, respond, and collaborate.

Speakers

Co-speaker: Carl Bass

President and CEO Autodesk, Inc.
Carl co-founded Ithaca Software, which was acquired by Autodesk in 1993. He serves on the Board of Directors of Autodesk, E2open, the Art Center College of Design, and the Rocky Mountain Institute. He is a member of the Executive Advisory Boards of Cornell Computing and Information Science and the UC Berkeley School of Information.

Co-speaker: Jeff Kowalski

Chief Technology Officer and SVP, Autodesk
Prior to being named CTO in 2006, Jeff served as Senior Director of Autodesk Worldwide Subscription Programs, and directed product development within the Autodesk Collaboration Services Division. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in computer science, both from Cornell University.

Co-speaker: Emily Pilloton

Founder, Project H
Emily Pilloton is the founder of Project H, a nonprofit design firm that uses the power of creativity, design, and hands-on building to transform communities and improve K-12 public education. She is the author of Design Revolution: 100 Products That Empower People.

Closing thoughts from Carl Bass

]]>http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2015/01/13/autodesk-ceo-carl-bass-and-cto-jeff-kowalski-keynote-at-the-2014-autodesk-university/feed/0Innovation Forum: The Future of How Buildings Are Made: A Stimulant for Your Next Projecthttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2015/01/12/innovation-forum-the-future-of-how-buildings-are-made-a-stimulant-for-your-next-project/
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2015/01/12/innovation-forum-the-future-of-how-buildings-are-made-a-stimulant-for-your-next-project/#commentsMon, 12 Jan 2015 23:01:39 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/?p=451Article Source: Autodesk

This is a presentation from the 2014 Autodesk University held in Las Vegas in December, 2014.

Description

The explosion of digital context is about to change everything that you know about the design and construction of the built environment. Join the AU Innovation Forum, buckle yourself in, and wrap your mind around the future of making buildings.

Speakers

Co-speaker: Alan Ricks

Alan Ricks is the Co-Founder of MASS Design Group. He manages global operations and leads initiatives spanning the design of individual buildings to policy—working globally to promote and build architecture that has a positive impact on communities. Ricks is an entrepreneur-in-residence at the Harvard Innovation Lab and a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum.

Co-speaker: Chris Horne

Chris Horne is an urban planner and project manager at Sasaki Associates in Massachusetts. His numerous current projects include a land use change simulation model and a harbor plan. He is also a member of Sasaki Strategies, an internal division focusing on data analytics, visualization, and software development. Prior to joining Sasaki, Horne worked as a researcher at MIT.

Co-speaker: James Vandezande

James Vandezande is a registered architect in New York. He has worked on a wide variety of projects, from high-end residential to large transportation. Considered a pioneer in the field of BIM, Vandezande is an adjunct lecturing professor at NYU. He also lectures at industry events and serves in various leadership roles. He is the author of the bestselling book series Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture.

Co-speaker: Ken Wiseman

Ken Wiseman is president of Design Services and process director for CannonDesign. He is responsible for initiatives governing the recruitment and development of the best design talent and technical expertise. He leads significant design projects across North America, including sports and recreation facilities for such organizations as the International Olympic Committee and the United States Air Force Academy.

Erin Rae Hoffer / Dominic Thasarathar

]]>http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2015/01/12/innovation-forum-the-future-of-how-buildings-are-made-a-stimulant-for-your-next-project/feed/0Big News For AEC – AutoCAD 2015 and AutoCAD LT 2015 for Mac Releasedhttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/10/14/big-news-for-aec-autocad-2015-and-autocad-lt-2015-for-mac-released/
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/10/14/big-news-for-aec-autocad-2015-and-autocad-lt-2015-for-mac-released/#commentsTue, 14 Oct 2014 22:36:59 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/?p=449Coming about six months after its major Windows releases, Autodesk, Inc. announced today the releases of AutoCAD 2015 for Mac and AutoCAD LT 2015 for Mac.

Although Autodesk estimates that only 1-3% of all Macs run CAD software, this is still a significant milestone for AutoCAD for the Mac platform, now in its fifth release. Significant because in the five years since the first release of AutoCAD for Mac, the Mac platform base and presence has expanded from about 15 million to today’s approximately 80+ million. A nice increase in potential market.

AutoCAD 2015 For Mac Overview

According to Autodesk, the new releases of the software make it easier for users to create drawings and designs on the platform of their choice without sacrificing important functionality that is key to everyday design workflows. Users can also share their work with colleagues that are using Windows versions of the software for uninterrupted collaboration – and this is a huge essential for success in a shared Windows/Mac design environment.

“The new releases of AutoCAD for Mac and AutoCAD LT for Mac are among the most significant updates in the products’ five-year history,” said Amy Bunszel, vice president of AutoCAD products at Autodesk. “This release has some rich new features but at its core, it is about eliminating dead ends that prevent people from being as effective as they can be when working together on design projects.”

We spoke with Micah Dickerson, Senior Product Manager for AutoCAD for Mac on the new releases, and he said one of the primary goals of the 2015 releases for Mac was to improve the user experience on many different levels (also discussed in the enhancements below). He said the main release points for improving the user experience were:

The general ability to work together better (collaborate) in a hybrid Mac/Windows AutoCAD design environment.

The ability to create cross-platform drawings.

The ability to minimize workflow deadends.

Key new enhancements include:

Dynamic Blocks. Mac users gain the ability to create and edit Dynamic Blocks—a capability previously limited to Windows users. This feature enables them to insert one block that can change shape, size, or configuration instead of inserting several static blocks.

Layer States. Mac users can also now save their layer settings as Layer States, which store information like color, linetype, and information about whether a layer is turned off, frozen, or locked. Prior to the 2015 releases, Mac users were unable to view any of the layer states information their Windows colleagues had embedded within a drawing.

Data Linking. Users who need to link a table to data in a Microsoft Excel file can use the new Data Linking feature, and their table will automatically update as external changes are made. This feature is especially helpful when managing large amounts of information about things like materials or fixtures. This enhancement allows users to embed Excel spreadsheets in drawings with cross-platform links that are no longer broken.

Quick Select. The Quick Select tool allows users to quickly select objects based on query criteria, enabling users to easily select exactly what they need in their drawing. The Quick Select tool also includes a “preview” option so that users can see what they’re about to select before they commit to the selection. Because there is so much selection criteria, this enhancement eases the Windows–>Mac transition.

I asked Dickerson how close to the Windows version the Mac version of AutoCAD was. He said from a functionality standpoint, they are virtually identical with regard to icons, and menu functions, such as a a new, true model/paper space toggle for Mac. The UI, however, is much more Mac-centric, with things such as floating palettes, etc. He said that while most of the code is developed cross-platform, there are a few specialized developers that address the Mac OS and UI.

When asked about the percentages of AutoCAD for Mac users in specific design markets, Dickerson estimated that about 2/3 were AEC and 1/3 were MCAD. Not too surprising.

Autodesk has really embraced the Apple and Mac markets, and it will be interesting to see if those markets embrace Autodesk in kind.

Additional details about the software, including pricing and availability, are available here. Also be sure and check out the three purchase models that are available for AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2015 for Mac.

In the year 2050 it is estimated that the Earth will be populated by 9 billion people and a question that is raised is how a sustainable food-production that produces enough for everyone, without posing additional stress on the environment can be designed. A solution is to find an alternative to meat production, and one such protein source is insects. There are approximately 1900 edible species of insects, and 2 billion of the world’s population already eat insects today. Protein production from insects is much more efficient than meat production, for example, 10 kg fodder is needed to produce 1 kg of beef, but the same amount of fodder can produce 9 kg of insects.

In 2018 it is estimated that the city of Stockholm will have 940 700 inhabitants. In order to produce protein from insects corresponding to the inhabitants’ meat consumption about 500 000 m2 farmable surface is needed. By placing insect farms in nine roundabouts throughout Stockholm the goal of making Stockholm self-sufficient in protein can be obtained.

To illustrate what an urban insect production might look like, Belatchew Labs has developed the insect farm BuzzBuilding for cultivation of crickets, offering 10 350 m² of farmable surface. BuzzBuilding consists of a building that integrates the whole insect production flow, from the egg to the ready-to-eat insect. Additionally, BuzzBuilding is a safe haven for endangered wild bees, which, apart from ensuring endangered species of bees’ continued existence, also turns Stockholm into a blooming and fertile city.

The main structure is a steel exoskeleton, an outer skeleton, inspired by the structure of insects. On the ground floor there is a restaurant where insects are prepared and sold. The goal is to make the production public; in contrast to the hidden meat production it invites the public to observe and participate, and offers accessible knowledge about where our food comes from.

– Last year we presented the urban power plant Strawscraper which received great interest throughout the world, says Rahel Belatchew Lerdell, CEO and founder, Belatchew Arkitekter.

– This year we are following up with a proposal for ecosystem services in the form of InsectCity and BuzzBuilding, in order to show that cities can become self-sufficient, which is central not least to Stockholm and Sweden, with EU’s fastest urbanization, concludes Rahel Belatchew Lerdell.

Belatchew Labs – BuzzBuilding Night View

]]>http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/06/09/insectcity-and-buzzbuilding-make-stockholm-self-sufficient/feed/0SketchUp Training Series Videoshttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/16/sketchup-training-series-videos/
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/16/sketchup-training-series-videos/#commentsFri, 16 May 2014 22:22:50 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/?p=421Here is a playlist of 27 SketchUp video tutorials. A brief description of each section follows:

Learn to position your view at the right height and position where you can look around your scene. Provides an overview of the tool and useful tips as well.

Inference locking is the ability to draw or move in only one direction and still reference other geometry. It is a key skill for fast and efficient SketchUp use.

Inference locking will make your work in SketchUp fast and efficient, but some practice helps. This is an example built from the beginning to show various ways inference locking can help when drawing and moving objects.

The eraser will erase edges and groups, but you can also use it to hide or soften edges. Watch this video for tips on how to best use the eraser tool.

You can add dimensions directly inside SketchUp. This video will show you how to be effective and adjust how the dimensions are displayed.

Arc can be drawn in several ways and adjusted as well. Watch this video for the basics as well as useful tips.

The basics of the section tool is explored in a separate video. This video goes deeper into sections to show how to adjust the section display, embed multiple sections in groups and components and create section animations.

This video covers multiple tools showing you how to be accurate while drawing or moving objects in SketchUp. Precision is easy once you understand how simple it is to enter measurements.

Explore your SketchUp model with the walk tool. Learn the tips to change your eye height and toggle collision detection on and off.

Add leader text, text on screen or 3D text as geometry in SketchUp. Learn how to change the appearance and options.

Rotating objects in SketchUp can be done easily and with precision, but the tool works differently than in other applications. This video will show the basics as well as a few advanced tips.

Learn to use the rectangle tool in SketchUp with some tips for best use and accuracy.

Push/ pull is possibly the single tool that most defines SketchUp. For as easy and powerful as it is, many SketchUp users don’t know about some of the tips to make it even more useful. Watch this video to be sure you know the best practices.

The protractor in SketchUp creates construction lines to help you while drawing and inferencing. You can set the protractor accurately using several methods. This video will show you all the best practices.

Applying colors and textures to your model is done with the paint tool. This video will show you tips for applying materials and changing materials all at once. There are also a few differences between the Windows and Mac versions of SketchUp that we will highlight.

Although there is no mirror tool or command in SketchUp, it’s easy and very useful to mirror objects with the scale tool.

Edges are the foundation of everything in SketchUp, learn how to draw them in any direction.

Inferencing is the ability to reference other geometry in SketchUp. This makes drawing and moving objects fast and accurate. It’s a key concept and can be learned quickly with a bit of practice.

The freehand tool is pretty simple, as this video will show.

You can create details, rails, trim, lathed shapes and lots more using the follow-me tool. It’s quite powerful and easy to use once you learn the basics with this video.

You can easily copy objects in SketchUp. Once you’ve made one copy, you can choose to make that an array for many copies.

The circle and polygon tools in SketchUp are very similar, with a key difference that we’ll explore. We’ll also show tips for adjusting the size and segments.

Changing the axes in SketchUp can be very useful for drawing. You can orient the axes in any direction allowing you to use inferencing along different directions.

The tape measure tool can measure between points, but also creates construction lines which are very useful as reference geometry in SketchUp. You can also re-size groups or the entire model using the tape measure tool.

The scale tool can work on flat surfaces or 3D objects. Not only can it scale objects, it can be useful as a modeling tool. We’ll show how to use the tool and a few tips you may not know.

Autofold is build into the move tool and allows you to manipulate surfaces and create automatic folding edges.

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http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/16/sketchup-training-series-videos/feed/0ArchiCAD 18 New Features — Renderinghttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/12/archicad-18-new-features-rendering/
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/12/archicad-18-new-features-rendering/#commentsMon, 12 May 2014 22:43:18 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/?p=426The integration of CineRender, MAXON’s world-class CINEMA 4D rendering engine into ArchiCAD 18, brings high quality, photo-realistic rendering images closer to a much wider range of designers. ArchiCAD 18 is the only BIM application that provides not only high-end, professional image quality thanks to the Cinema 4D rendering engine, but a very smooth workflow and an excellent user experience as well.

One-button “photo-shot” rendering can lead to the same high-quality results with the same ease as with tweaking numerous sliders and parameters, allowing novice users to create professional renderings. Professional users can use all the advanced rendering settings of ArchiCAD, or continue the project visualization in MAXON Cinema 4D.

ArchiCAD 18 provides a wide range of professional surface material catalogs right out of the box. Users with an active subscription license may download additional surface materials free of charge from the BIMcomponents.com portal. The entire surface material set of MAXON’s Cinema 4D is also available. ArchiCAD 18 provides brand new lamp objects enhanced with new light settings: parallel light, area light and window light sources can be applied.

The standard, IES Light format can also be assigned to ArchiCAD’s lamp objects, ensuring manufacturer-specific photometric distribution for lighting. ArchiCAD’s live rendering preview and background processor support make the rendering workflow a smooth, uninterrupted process.

This 14-part playlist introduces many of the new rendering features available in ArchiCAD 18:

]]>http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/12/archicad-18-new-features-rendering/feed/0ArchiCAD 18 – Join the Creative Flowhttp://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/06/archicad-18-join-the-creative-flow/
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/2014/05/06/archicad-18-join-the-creative-flow/#commentsTue, 06 May 2014 17:25:37 +0000http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/aecsanjay/?p=417BUDAPEST, Hungary, May 6, 2014 — (PRNewswire) — GRAPHISOFT® announced today the latest version of its industry-leading BIM software solution for architects and designers. ArchiCAD 18 delivers innovations making the BIM workflow smoother, including CineRender, a brand new render engine with high-end photorealistic rendering capabilities found only in the professional visualization application CINEMA 4D – now available right inside the BIM tool.

“BIM innovation has been shifting from adding new features to introducing innovative new workflows — this is exactly what ArchiCAD 18 offers end-users,” said Laszlo Vertesi, Vice President of Product Development at GRAPHISOFT. “With ArchiCAD 18, we pinpointed the most important user requests related to workflow issues with the clear goal of providing our users with solutions that keep them in the creative design flow with as little disruption as possible.”

“We are delighted that GRAPHISOFT has decided to integrate CineRender into ArchiCAD 18 – offering a bridge to CINEMA 4D for users who wish to add even more sophisticated graphics and animations to their projects,” said Harald Egel, Managing Partner and CEO of MAXON.

About ArchiCAD 18

Built-in CineRender, the CINEMA 4D render engine by MAXON Computer – High-quality, photorealistic renderings are still the most important client communication tool for architects. The integration of CineRender, MAXON’s world-class CINEMA 4D rendering engine into ArchiCAD 18, brings this capability closer to a much wider range of users. One-button “photo-shot” rendering can be used to easily produce convincing, high-quality results, as with tweaking numerous sliders and parameters – allowing both novice and professional users to complete the rendering job right inside the BIM application. Fast preview and background processor support make the rendering workflow a smooth and uninterrupted process. The seamless file export from ArchiCAD 18 to CINEMA 4D enables users to enhance their projects with high-end animation and visualization techniques and benefit from decreased render times thanks to the highly-efficient distributed rendering solution in CINEMA 4D.

Integrated Revision Management workflows — Data exchange with clients, consultants and the authorities puts the legal burden on architects and designers. ArchiCAD 18 tracks and automatically documents changes to the building model so questions about responsibility won’t be an issue later on. ArchiCAD 18’s brand new Revision Management solution is integrated into the entire BIM workflow, providing solutions for 2D, 3D or any kind of hybrid workflows.

Improved PDF-based data exchange — PDF has become one of the worldwide drawing standards people use for multiple tasks. By introducing BIM-related intelligence and data hierarchies into PDF files, ArchiCAD 18 offers PDF-based smooth workflows for a wide range of stakeholders in the AEC process.

OPEN BIM and IFC-based workflow improvements – ArchiCAD 18 continues to deliver several IFC-related improvements, including professional scheme-driven data management and data mapping and high-quality (certified) export processes. In addition, to support highly iterative coordination with engineers and consultants, ArchiCAD 18 introduces full BCF support. The BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) is an open file format that allows the addition of textual comments and screenshots on top of the IFC model layer for better communication between the coordinating parties. ArchiCAD 18 integrates BCF information natively into the BIM model in the form of ArchiCAD Mark-Up entries. As a result, ArchiCAD joins major BIM applications (including model checker, structural and MEP engineering software) that support the BCF format.

GRAPHISOFT BIMcloud® Integration – The true potential of BIM is best realized through a team effort with several contributors collaborating on the same BIM data. With its full integration with the GRAPHISOFT BIMcloud®, ArchiCAD 18 offers industry-first, real-time BIM collaboration regardless of the size, location or setup of the collaborating team. Cloud integration allows the ArchiCAD team to soar without limits. Learn more about GRAPHISOFT’s BIMcloud® Solution here: http://www.graphisoft.com/bimcloud/

Workflow enhancements – In addition to introducing brand new innovative workflows, ArchiCAD 18 also unveils substantial enhancements to its existing workflows as well, proving that listening to customers is of primary importance when assigning development resources at GRAPHISOFT.

Headquartered in Germany, MAXON Computer is a developer of industry-leading professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions. Its award-winning CINEMA 4D and BodyPaint 3D software products have been used extensively to help create everything from stunning visual effects in top feature films, TV shows and commercials to cutting-edge game cinematics for AAA games, medical illustration, and architectural and industrial design applications. MAXON has offices in Germany, USA, United Kingdom, France, Japan and Singapore. MAXON products are available directly from MAXON and its worldwide distribution and reseller channel.

About GRAPHISOFT

GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution in 1984 with ArchiCAD®, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as its revolutionary BIMcloud® the world’s first real-time BIM collaboration environment, EcoDesigner™, the world’s first fully BIM-integrated “GREEN” design solution and BIMx®, the world’s leading mobile app for BIM visualization. GRAPHISOFT has been a part of the Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2007.